Buckle



(No Model.)

J. R. KBNNBTT. BUCKLB.

No. 440,313. Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN R. KENNETT, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440313, dated November 11, 1890.

` Application filed May 31, 1890. Serial No. 353,8l6. (No model.)

To all whom it may cowcrn;

Be it known that I, JOHN R. KENNETT, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of Nev: York, have invented new and useful Improvenents in Buckles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

Myinventon relates to an improved buckle particularly applicable for use on harnesses, &(3., and has for its object the production of a simple and effective device for securing together straps and like articles without the slightest liability of the tongue of the buckle being caught by outside objects-as, When used on a harness, by the horses tail; and to this end it consists, essentially, in afrane for receiving the strap or other article, a tongue for retaining said strap, and a shield above the tongue when in its normal closed position, said 'shield consisting of a pair of side wings projecting from two opposite sides of the frame, with a space between their adjacent edges to permit the passage of the tongue.

The inventionalso consists in the detail, construction, and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claim.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figures 1 and 2 represent, respectively, top plan view and side elevation of ny improved buckle, shown as connected to the adjacent extremities of a pair of straps. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line a: x, Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 and 5 are top plan Views of modified forms of uy improved buckle.

Arepresents the frame of the buckle, which is of any desirable form, size, and construction best adapted for the particular use for which the buckle is designed.

As illustrated, and as preferably Constructed, the frame is rectangular, and is forned with a front wall a, a rear wall a', and the side walls a inclosing the front loop A' and the rear loop A through which are passed the separate straps B and C. The rearloop A is preferably provided with a cross-bar a which forms a pivotal support for the tongue D and asupport for one of the straps C. This tongue D is of suitable form, size, and Construction, and is here illustrated as a round bar having one extremity d loosely wound around the cross-bar a? and the other extrenity d' freely movable and adapted to rest against a bottom cross-bar E, provided on the frane A at its front loop A'. The strap B is passed above the front Wall a of the frame A beneath the cross-bar E and the rear wall a' of the frane and upon the rear strap C. Forned in this strap B are suitable perforations b, with which the free extremity of the tongue D engages in the usual manner for rctaining straps of this construction, and it Will be uuderstood that when the tongue is in its normal position the strain upon the strap B draws the free extremity of the tongue firrnly against the bar E. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the side walls 66 of the frame A are extended downwardly at a, to formasupport for the cross-bars E and a and for protecting the straps B and C and adding to the appearance and design of the buckle.

F represents the shield, which is of desirable form and preferably above the tongue D when in its nornal closed position for preventing contact therewith of outside objects. As illustrated, this shield is provided With an opening F', through which the tongue is movable in its operation of engaging the strap B, and by this opening or slot the shield is divided into a pair of arms or wings F which extend toward each other from the opposite side walls a? of the frane A, and are preferably formed of rounding contour, in order to render their operation more efficient.

G represents a front cross-bar on the frane A, which is also above the tongue D when in its normal closed position and serves to prevent objects entel-ing the front loop of the buckle.

At- Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of buckle, in which the front loop is considerably Shortened and the front cross-bar Gr dispensed with. This buckle is very desirable for certain purposes, but does not present as neat an appearance, and is not as effective in operation for all purposes.

At Fig. 5 I have shown a further modified IOO form of bu ckle having the rearloop dispensed with' and the shield of the same Construction, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The frame of my improved buckle may be readily formed, at a minimum cost, of cast or other suitable metal, and is no more expensive or heavy than the ordinary buckle. It Will be understood, however, that by mounting the shield above the tongue When in its normal closed position all liability of objects contaoting with the same is absolutely obviated, which is a feature of great advantage. This is particularly noticeable When my improved buckle is used on harnesses, since it is Well known that When switching his tail a horse is extremely liable to catch the same in the buckles of back-straps and breeching, Whereby the hairs of his tail are pulled out and broken and its appearanoe is greatly deteriorated. Moreover, the operation of the tongue of my improved buckle is as effective as that of the ordinary Construction, since the shield, which efiectively prevents contact of outside objects With said buckle, does not in the sl'ghtest degree affectits perfect operation.

The operation of my invention Will be readily perceived from the foregoing, and it will be understood that the same may be 'somewhat varied from its described form and construotion Without departing from the spirit thereot',

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-desoribed buckle, the same consistin g of a frame for receiving a strap, a movable tongue for engaging the strap, and a.

JOHN R. KENNETT.

Witnesses:

CLARK H. NORTON, M. BAXTER. 

